Despite the high overall cost of living in Paris, it’s actually a great place for students to live on a budget. Rent may be high, but many French government policies are designed to allow students and young people to live comfortably in the city, even with low or no income.
Here are eight ways you can save (or earn) money if you’re studying in Paris on a tight budget:

 KEY TAKEAWAYS
Student transportation discounts include 50% off an adult unlimited monthly pass for the metro, bus, and tram, and 25% to 60% off single tickets for the SNCF, the national train system.
University-subsidized CROUS restaurants and cafeterias provide discount meals; with a job, you can get Tickets Restaurant vouchers from your employer to spend in restaurants, cafés, and grocery stores.
Most French museums and monuments offer free admission to students who are ER residents or have a student ID from a French university.
Housing assistance of up to $220 per month is available if you're a low-income student with a year-long lease, not a sublet.
Once you have your visa, you can work part-time, up to 964 hours per year, which is roughly 20 hours per week.
You can take reduced price, noncredit french classes at night, thanks to offerings from the French government and several non-profits.

1. Get a carte Imagine R
The carte Imagine R is the unlimited monthly transportation pass for students under 26.

2. Eat meals at a CROUS restaurant

CROUS restaurants and cafeterias are subsidized cafeterias run at different universities throughout France that allow students to eat well-balanced meals for the low, low price of $3.50. You have to set up an account on your student ID or using a cell phone app called Izly to pay (not all CROUS accept cash), but the meal includes an appetizer, a main course with fish or meat, a vegetable and a grain, plus a dessert or cheese selection.

 3. Get Cultured for Free

Most French museums and monuments are owned and operated by the government, and the vast majority of them offer free admission to students under 26. You do have to be an EU resident to benefit, but showing your student ID from a French university is proof enough that you live in France. The ID just needs to show your birthday as proof of age.

 4. Travel for up to 60% Off

The SNCF is the national train system, and train tickets can be quite pricey. If you plan on doing a bit of train travel, though, you can buy a Carte Jeune for youth 18–27 for $55, which lets you purchase tickets for 25% to 60% off, including the high-speed TGV.

5. Apply for Housing Assistance

Rent in Paris can be expensive, but if you have a real year-long lease (not a sublet) and low income (as a student), you may be eligible for housing assistance, called APL (Aide personnalisée au logement) from the Caisse des Allocations Familiales. Once you’ve had your visa validated in France, you can apply for assistance by declaring your current financial situation, your past financial situation from two years before and the amount you pay in rent. Students can receive up to $220 per month in assistance starting in the second month they are in their apartment.

Tip: To receive your assistance faster, send your CAF application in as soon as you arrive in France, and they will process it while you’re waiting for your appointment at the Office Français d’Immigration et d’Intégration (OFII) to validate your visa. CAF can’t pay you until they receive a copy of your titre de séjour (residency permit) but this way, you’ll receive your money a few weeks after your OFII appointment.

Even in an expensive city like Paris, students can live on a tight budget by taking advantage of French government programs and the many other student deals for meals, transportation, and cultural pursuits.

6. Work up to 964 Hours per Year

Before you can get your visa, the French consulate requires you to have proof of enough resources to last through the year, but once you arrive, you can work part-time, up to 964 hours per year (about 20 hours per week). Many students get part-time jobs teaching English or working in tourist-area cafés and restaurants, some netting enough to pay the rent and even have some left over for baguettes and cheese. Note that the consulate does not allow you to use a part-time job in lieu of proof of sufficient financial resources.

7. Make Use of Tickets Restaurant

If you do get a job, most companies offer Tickets Restaurant, which are vouchers that you can spend in restaurants, cafés, and even grocery stores to cover prepared food items like packaged meals. Tickets cost about $10, and 50% of their cost is paid by the employer, while the other 50% is taken out of your paycheck. Then, you can use the tickets to buy meals, using up to two tickets at a time.